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Monday, April 30, 2012

:: the best chocolate almond croissants you will ever eat, in France or elsewhere. To be found at the Falls Church farmers market being sold by a woman with a french accent (do not buy the ones from the stand across from her... those are hard and puck-ish and just as expensive. These are heavy and incredibly rich and quite possibly the tastiest thing you will ever eat). See? Even Hugo likes them.

:: a stroll down to the used book store yielded a book entitled "The Magic Bus." Perhaps a precursor to those Magic School Bus books? Much cuter, if you ask me.

:: a long weekend with a friend who is called "Auntie" by our children because she is clearly a part of this family. Friends like this are absolutely priceless.

Friday, April 27, 2012

:: a trip to the petstore
:: breakfast with a handsome fellow
:: spring shoes are out
:: a frog (or is it a toad?) on the way to preschool
:: pipe smoking with ben on the deck after the kiddos' bedtime

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Between a wonderful family gathering this weekend and a once again broken camera, I have been struggling to find my blogging groove! Here are a few shots from our week: cupcakes, baby showers, and bunkbeds (which have been fabulous!). Lily was absolutely shocked to learn on Saturday morning that she is now THREE. The look of wonder on her face was priceless. And her real birthday celebration hasn't even happened yet. But, with cousins (and another one due any week now) and picnics and beautiful weather, it ended up being quite the weekend nevertheless.

Friday, April 20, 2012

I think these photos sum up my week. Painting and wandering. Painting because our littlest girl is about to turn *three* which in this household means a "big girl bed," and this particular time means a newly painted room and a bunk bed. So these past few days, ever stolen moment I can find I have been taping, edging, and all out painting, which seems to be a good upper body workout because my arms are tired! But the room is a beautiful bird's egg blue, and it was all worth it to see Lily wander in and after a moment of speachlessness utter, "Oh, it is beautiful!"

And wandering because that is what our bodies have been yearning for on these beautiful spring days. Wandering in the yard, down to the local smoothie place, or for a romp in the woods. Or, if you're Hugo, just wandering around the house with his new favorite toy (thank you very much, Mrs. Tucker). Someone's first steps are just a few weeks away and I am not sure that my heart is ready for that.

These next few days are full in the best ways possible. I find myself thankful for family, spring, and newness all around us.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I think all of you who spend time around little kids know that there is a lot of laughter, because man do they come up with the funniest things. From our neck of the woods:

A little conversation with Zosia, who has taken to setting the table for dinner every evening.
Me: Zosia, great job setting the table. You know, one day you might be a mommy of your own family and get to set the table for them, too.
Zosia: And then will I have a little daughter to set the table for me?

Lily, on the other hand, has mastered the art of testing limits in her very cute little way. The other day we were all outside and she was doing something risky (as she seems to enjoy) like using her bicycle as a stepstool to climb onto a tree.

Me: Lily, you may not use your bicycle as a stepstool.
Lily (very earnestly): Oh, I'm sorry, mom! I didn't realize you were looking!

Along those lines, if I ask her to stop a certain behavior, she stops it, waits for a second, and then says (with a big smile on her face) "Mommy, please don't look at me right now!" and then as soon as I look away, commences with the activity. One of these days I will have to stop laughing at this little tactic... but it's just too cute.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Check out my new wheels! My early birthday present from Ben arrived the other week (complete with baby seat), and I am so excited to use it, especially as the weather warms back up. Sweet potato vines are in the window boxes, and three lucky tomato plants are in the ground, as a sort of experiment to see if I am nuts for planting this early. Fingers crossed.

This chilly weather makes me sleeepy! Where once I might have tried to get a bit of exercise or reading with Zosia in during the afternoon nap period, these days I have been lying down myself. I need to rally a bit to find the energy for all of these spring projects I have on my mind!

(And on a sidenote, I am experimenting with the Instagram for android! Verdict is still out whether I prefer this or Pixlr-o-matic)

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

It's one of those things that will never cease to put a smile on my face. Dinner on the deck with four family members whom I adore (not counting Selma the dog, who lingers under Hugo's highchair hoping something will drop). Above: the menu tonight was barbecue chicken thighs (quite the economical cut of meat! And very flavorful), grilled sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli. We had popsicles for dessert, which ended up being the perfect segue into a warm bath, because it was one of those days that feels warm but then becomes chillllly. And there's Hugo's first post-work commute snuggle with Ben, who had just gotten off of his bike and is still in his biking clothes, or, as Zosia likes to put it, "Daddy's wearing tights!"

Sunday, April 8, 2012

"God says, 'I love you with an everlasting love,' and Jesus came to tell us that. When Jesus was baptized, he heard a voice that said, 'You are my beloved, on whom God's favor rests.' That's a very important statement that Jesus wants us to hear. We are the Beloved, not because we did anything, not because we proved ourselves. Basically, God loves us whatever we do. If that's true, these few years that we are in the world, we are sent to say, in the midst of our life, 'Yes, God, I love you, too."

Saturday, April 7, 2012

It's always nice to let your children know they belong to something bigger than themselves, isn't it? Perhaps a family, a faith, a people? Somehow it makes them at once special and belonging to a larger whole. Easter has come, the eggs have been blessed, and our two little girls know that this is how we do it, year after year. There's something very sacred to that collective memory.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Pardon my relative silence while we revel in this glorious spring that has come upon us. You will probably find us in our front yard. Ben has planted grass in the backyard, so we have made the most of our front yard dwelling with massive amounts of balance biking, digging in flower beds, climbing in trees, and sidewalk chalk. Epic imaginary dramas have been enacted, every mineral has been tasted by Hugo, and I just realized that we have all developed tan lines. Tan lines!

It is a nice feeling to spend a whole day outside (eating, playing, working) and not even notice it. Spring tidings to you, too!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Just the ladies of the house playing dress-up with some lovely little flower wreaths made for us by my beloved aunt in preparation for our big Polish easter basket blessing this Saturday. But of course you know us: we couldn't resist putting them on as soon as they entered the house.

Is anyone else feeling a little bewildered that there's less than a week until Easter? I tell you, getting palms on Sunday was a sobering reminder that Easter really is here. Easter eggs, Easter baskets, Easter dresses. And what about feeling spiritually ready? We really are in the homestretch here. Now is the time, Adele. Okay, hopefully that pep talk will do.